Keilani Marie Escobar-Collins
Photo credit: Silpa Sadhujan Dance Photography
Cover photo credit: Silpa Sadhujan Dance Photography
Keilani Marie Escobar-Collins, U20 Aherne School of Irish Dance USA IDA Branch, An Chomhdháil
J You have worked your way up in the ranking at the Worlds and this year hit the podium at an impressive third place. Did anything in your training or approach to dancing change in 2024 that helped you achieve this podium placement?
Achieving third place at this year’s Worlds, I had adjusted my approach to training and it paid off. Since I was living on my college campus, I wasn’t easily able to attend the classes hosted by my dance school throughout the week. For Worlds, my dance school hosted a workshop every Sunday which allowed me to get face-to-face time with all my teachers, take videos of my dancing, and use a proper studio. When I wasn’t commuting home every weekend for the Sunday workshop, I was practising on carpet in one of my college campus’s classrooms. After I finished my college classes for the day, I regularly went to the gym to do my strength training and conditioning. At my first Worlds, I placed 12th, and I could not believe it. Of course I was ecstatic. I would take that placement any day. But there was a part of me that wondered was that a fluke? I must admit, I experienced ‘imposter syndrome’. People might not believe that I struggled with that. I thrive on competing and love being on the biggest stage for our sport. Last year I placed eighth and that meant my goals for 2024 were higher. I told my dance teachers that my goal was to make the top five. To help me prepare, they really made sure to keep me focused on adjusting my mindset. One of my teachers was always saying that the biggest difference between the top 15 and top five is mindset, because everyone at that level is such a strong dancer. Their constant push for me to give more or try harder while also being supportive was just
the right mix needed. Once I stepped on stage, all of my training kicked in and I knew the whole branch of USA IDA was there cheering me on.
J As a top American dancer now competing in a predominantly Irish field of competitors at the World level, how do you stay motivated and continue to push your limits in the US?
Being one of the top Americans now competing in a predominantly Irish field of competitors at the World level is not always easy. I have had the opportunity to compete at numerous feiseanna in Ireland and Scotland, which I am grateful for. It allowed me to get a sense of what my competition was like. However, competing in overseas competitions is not something I can do very easily. I do believe that I am at the level where I do not need to be constantly feising, but when I do feis I use it as a tool that’s part of my overall training. As I have gotten older and have been competing at this top level, I have had to shift my mindset to focus more on practising and perfecting my skills – it’s my personal goals and dreams that help keep me motivated. Interestingly, Covid helped me realise how training on
my own and focusing on the little things were the key to getting stronger and better.
J We absolutely loved sharing the video of you discovering you had placed third at the An Chomhdháil Worlds in Killarney ’24.
This day was filled with so much excitement and emotion. My competition started later in the day, so I did not have to worry about getting up at the crack of dawn. I got to ease into my morning dance day routine, feeling the underlying nerves but focusing on staying relaxed. Once it was time to walk down to the main venue to warm-up, my mind was just focused on settling into my routine. Since I was near the end of the first round rotation, I had a little more time to check in with my teachers for a last-minute pep talk. Once I was standing side stage I knew this was it and just put it out on the stage. After I danced my first round, I felt I did my best, so now it was time to focus
The first feis she ever did was The Big Apple feis as a U10 dancer!
She earned her first solo dress as a U11 dancer and was so excited!
on the second round, which was one of my favourite dances, being a slip jig. The first four bars of my slip jig did not go as expected when I found myself going for a birdie and my foot slipping as I was going up into the air, and next thing I know I am landing on the ground. Luckily, I did not hurt myself. To help me shake it off one of my dance teachers told me: “No slipping in the slip jig.” When I stepped back out on the stage to do it again, I knew I had to give it my all. After I finished, I felt I had done the best I could and went to my teachers to get their feedback.
Next up was my set round. I remember standing on stage and seeing my dance teachers in the front row and my mum and boyfriend standing at the back, then I just went into autopilot. That feeling of relief after walking off the set stage was wonderful because I knew I had given it everything and it was now in the hands of the judges. Once it was time for the results, I remember being more nervous than the actual dancing, since this was the moment of truth. I was sitting in-between one of my dance teachers and my boyfriend as the first adjudicator’s points were announced. I couldn’t believe that I had received 100 points! I had to contain my excitement since I knew there were four more adjudicators to go. Hearing my name being called as third felt unreal. I cried because I could not believe I had achieved my goal of making
top five. It was like a dream to be on the podium and getting to raise my globe. This was definitely one of the greatest feelings and memories in my dance career for sure.
J Balancing school homework and dance class can be challenging. How do you manage your time effectively to excel in both areas?
This past year I was a sophomore in college. While I was more comfortable with college life, I found balancing school,
homework and dance class were still just as challenging. Depending on what my schedule was like for the semester, what project or exam I had coming up, or how easily I could travel back home to attend dance classes, I always had to be prepared for unexpected things to come up. With every semester having a slightly different schedule, it may take one or two weeks to figure out a routine that works effectively. When it comes to balancing school, my college has every student create their
U19 Provincials Champion – 2023
Keilani’s dance school was previously with the CLRG – pictured here at an NAIDC with her team!
own schedule based on what classes they need to be taking for the following semester. I tend to create a schedule where most of my classes are in the beginning of the week and start in the morning and finish in the early afternoon. Ending class early allows me to go to the gym, start homework, eat dinner before practising in a classroom, and then finishing the rest of my homework afterwards. I purposely develop my schedule to have no Friday classes, which allows me to catch up or get a head start on assignments and meet with one of my dance teachers for a dance class before taking the train down to the city to attend the Sunday workshop.
J What are your favourite things about Irish Dancing Magazine, and do you think it has helped your dancing in any way? Every month I look forward to receiving my Irish Dance Magazine. One of the first things I love to see is who is the dancer of the month on the cover. I enjoy reading and learning about the dancer and their dance journey. It is interesting to get to know more about the dancers’ lives outside of
“During intense training and competition seasons everything pretty much becomes about dance.”
Irish Dance too. I like catching up on the results shared from all majors, regionals and local competitions, including photos from those competitions. It is great to read about what has been happening in Irish Dancing each month, including when it is time to nominate Teachers of the Year, which my teacher won a couple of years ago. Reading tips on how to improve technique, increase stamina or strengthening ideas has been particularly helpful for me. It is also nice to learn about the other organisations that exist and see the photos from all the feiseanna from so many different cities.
J Do you have any special rituals or routines you follow before a big competition?
Before any big competition, like Worlds, I usually like to arrive in Ireland two days before my dance day. This allows me to adjust to the time zone and push past the jet lag. The day of arrival I tend to go to the practice room to brush off the airplane legs and watch some of the competitions happening that day. The day before I dance is mainly just stretching and getting into a focused headspace. I have to have a dinner with some type of protein, veggie and carb so I’m fuelled for the next day. Then I usually head up to the hotel room early so I can just relax and get away from the noise of awards and dancing going on. I won’t go to bed too far after. I can get a little superstitious on a dance day, so I’ll start my day with a small breakfast and coffee, where I’ll then go upstairs to chill before my mum starts my hair. I have to have my mum do my hair since I only trust her to be able to do it and know how I like it. I’ll finish my look by doing my own make-up and any other wig
touchups. I have a specific warm-up routine that I have to do before it’s time to dance. For the past two Worlds I’ve only wanted my mum, my dance teachers and my boyfriend, Barry, to be by my side throughout the day since they know how to keep me focused.
J Do you have any lucky charms or habits that help you stay focused?
One habit that I started while training for the 2024 An Chomhdháil Worlds was making a wish on any angel number I see. My dad passed away when I was eight years old. He always wanted me to do Irish Dancing. Ever since I started dancing, I dedicated my dancing to him. For this Worlds, I wanted to dedicate this goal to him and seeing angel numbers made me feel as if he was guiding me. The one lucky charm that I always have with me is a necklace my nana gave me with the silhouette of a boy. It has my dad’s name on it. I believe he is with me every time I dance.
J Have you ever experienced a dance injury?
I have been lucky enough to say I have had no serious injuries (knock on wood!). I hope as my dance journey continues that I stay healthy. There have been times when I have ramped up my training, which is usually around Worlds, and I have experienced an ankle roll or some sort of pain pop-up, but I try to follow as many warm-up/cool-down exercises as I can to steer clear of any serious injury.
J Do you find that you can psych yourself out? How do you overcome nerves?
I do not tend to psych myself out, but when it comes to nerves it is all about
trusting your training. If you have done everything you can in class, outside of class, in the gym, and the extra time you have throughout your week/weekends, then you cannot be more prepared. If you have the mindset of just trusting in yourself and what you have practised, then all you have to do is put it out in front of the judges and leave the rest to them.
J Do you remember earning your first solo dress?
I was 11 years old and in the Novice level when I was given the green light to get my first solo dress. It was a Siopa Rince dress, and it had all the colours that I loved and wanted, black, white and especially pink. Every feis I would look at solo dresses for fun but never found one that I just had to have. Amazingly when it was finally time to purchase one, this dress met everything I was looking for and my teachers liked it too. I could not wait to wear it, which was the very next weekend. I am so happy that I was able to pass the dress on to younger dancers in my dance school too.
J Do you have a hand in deciding your choreography or is this something your teacher decides on his/her own?
I do have a hand in deciding my own choreography, but my dance teachers
will give me the base/foundation for my steps to see what works and what doesn’t. The process of coming up with my choreography is usually trial and error. My choreography doesn’t tend to change much around Worlds, but throughout the year jumps or tricks may be added or taken out. Every time I get new material it is always exciting and challenging, but in a good way.
J If there is a dance move you are struggling to do, would you rather figure out how to master it or would you tend to replace it with something that perhaps suits your personal dance style better? If there is a dance move I am struggling with, I will try to figure out how to master it. After attempting the move numerous times, if I still don’t get a good feel that it is my style, typically my teachers and I will go back to the drawing board.
J In addition to dance, are there any other hobbies or interests you’re passionate about?
Tennis and running are my family’s sports. Tennis was my first passion before dance. Both my parents played tennis and ran races (marathons and half marathons). But my dad always wanted me to do Irish Dance. Once I found an Irish Dance school, I decided to try it. I did not realise it would become my new passion. On a Saturday
morning, I would go do a feis and come home and quickly get ready to make it to tennis practice. I found myself wanting to feis every weekend so my mum made me choose: dance or tennis. Dance won. My mum continues to run, including races. As I got older, I decided to run with her as another way to exercise. We always run together in Central Park, along Park Avenue for Summer Streets or along the East River. I am a member of the New York Road Runners Club and ran my first All Women’s 10K when I was 15 years old. In 2023 I gained entry via lottery to run the New York City Half Marathon. The lottery process is not easy and attracts over 24,000 runners from all over the world. It is a very popular half marathon because it starts in Brooklyn, crosses the Manhattan Bridge and goes through Times Square before finishing in Central Park. Unfortunately, due to the timing of Worlds last year, I had to defer my entry to 2024. Since the NYC Half Marathon is always around the same time as Worlds, I was unable to run it again this year. It is a goal of mine to run this race, and hopefully do it with my mum.
J How do you stay motivated during intense training and competition seasons? During intense training and competition seasons everything pretty much becomes about dance. I love Irish Dancing, so it is
2021 – U17 Provincials Champ
She has always been a huge fan of team dancing!!
not hard for me to stay motivated. I typically look to the season ahead and plan my goals with my teachers. I also love competing and am willing to do whatever I can to achieve goals. I have such a supportive dance community to keep me going. My teachers help keep me in the right mindset with the right amount of pushing. My mum makes sure that I am taking care of myself and not burning out by ensuring that I am eating well and getting enough rest. She knows that I can be hard on myself. My boyfriend is also a huge support to me and helps me stay focused, especially on the bad dance days. In dance class or workshops, all the dancers from my school are always so encouraging and the biggest cheerleaders for one another so that you cannot help but stay motivated week after week.
J Do you do any other training outside of Irish Dancing?
I used to just rely on going to dance three or four times a week. I have learned that outside training is just as important to
my growth as a dancer. I go to the gym for strength and conditioning. I usually go for one to two hours at least six days a week. I do give myself one rest day. If I am home for a workshop and unable to go to the gym, I go for a three-mile run.
J Have you participated in any dance camps?
I was a camper at USA IDA Summer Camp for two years and I’m now a counsellor. As a camper it was a great mix of dancing and fun. We were able to practise dancing, come up with a group dance and enjoy being with other dancers in a non-dance setting. Last year was my first year as a counsellor and it was nice to guide and work with the younger dancers from other schools.
I attended my school’s (Aherne Sheehan) summer camp as a camper for a few years and eventually became a counsellor there too. It was a great way to get to know all the dancers in the school, especially the younger dancers. When I became a counsellor, it was a nice way to be in a leadership role and help the younger dancers to come up with a dance routine for the last day.
I also attended a camp dedicated to doing Hammerstep. I loved learning a new and different style of dance. I was one of the dance captains since I was able to pick up the dancing easily.
I attended Camp Rince Ceol for a total of four years. My last year I attended Camp in a Box, which was during Covid. I was 13 when I attended CRC for the first time. I always attended week three, which was the last week. I loved all my counsellors and the dance teachers. I met so many great dancers whom I became very close with. It was an intense week of dancing but so much fun. I looked forward to being on the campus for the week, and the final showcase. While Camp in a Box was not the same as being at Union College in Schenectady, NY, it helped to get through
that summer with social distancing still taking place. I also attended the remote version at a friend’s house for the week with another friend, so it felt a little like being at CRC. I believe it was definitely a creative and great way to host a camp.
J Which famous quote is something you think about often or best describes your motivation/determination when it comes to your dance life?
During my training for the 2024 Worlds, a quote that stuck by my dance teachers and I was “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” by Jillian Michaels. This quote stuck by me because no matter where you are in your training, there will always be a difficult move, new correction or tough dance day. This next quote is one that I have always followed throughout my dance career as well: “Be strong when you are weak. Be brave when you are scared. Be humble when you are victorious,” by Michelle Moschetti. Those words resonate with me because I feel they describe all things a dancer faces or feels at some point in their journey. It was a quote my mum shared with me when I finally placed in my first Preliminary competition. I had struggled to get that first placement. From then on placements came easier but she believed that quote would help me not become discouraged and to stay grounded. IDM
The most trophies she won at a feis was eight when she was dancing in Novice as a U11 dancer!
Photo with Julia O’Rourke, who starred in JIG, at a local feis when Keilani was U11!
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